Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-05-18
By PROF. n. Z. SMITH.

A Mistake.
All men work according to the theories
or principles which they at heart belive In,
though not always according to those
which they profess. Wrongtheories BRO.
duce wrong practices, therefore first cor.
rect the theory.
There are three wrong theories which,
carried into practice, produce lifeless
schools:
I. The Block-of-Marble Theory.-A
puple with his mind unframed and I'M
developed, is like the rough block Of
marble just from the quarry. The true
teacher is q sculptor; he sees beneath the
rude exterior the beautiful outlines of the
perfect statue, and slowly, chip by chip.
hews away the useless matter till his ideal
is emdoied in the marble, and visible to
the eye. The theory is as false as it is
beautiful and poetical.
g. The Pouring-In Theory.-The
teacher from his stories and accumulated
wisdom pours with liberal hand into the
waiting mind of the pupil. Not quite SO
poetic as the fomer, but equally false.
8. The Baking. Mule Theory.-The
least poetlcal, and most commonly prac-
ticed of three false theories. The pupil
is driven or coaxed like a stubborn mule.
A tempting wisp Of oats is held out in
front. in the shape of promotions, re-
wards, prizes, and public announcements
applied from the rear. in the shape of
threats, public reprimand or disgrace,
anda whole dark catalogue of punish
ments.
A fatal mistake underlies these theories
onA thu poo<h@1o <o 1,,h;o1, <lo,, .:,~ ~:,o
The pupils mind IS not like senseless
marble or water, yielding only to extreme
forces; not like o railroad coach, though
built by Pullman. and called a palace car,
is yet inert, passive. dead: fit only to
be dragged or pushed. It is like the
engine, when the steam is %throbbing
against the piston-rod, instinct with real
life and power, waiting but the touch of
the engineer to imprison its seething en-
ergies, and enable it to do its share of the
worlds work.
The question.-How shall a pupils
so awakened and energiZed as to move
forward, impelled from a motive power
| within?
The Answer.-l. By encouraging
parents to visit the school. room. Least
necessary; but by no means unimportant.
2. By making the school and its exer-
cises pleasant and attractive. BY kind
department toward pupils, by ornament
ing and making comfortable the school
room and grounds, by providing ia elites
for pleasant and profitable outdoor ex-
~crcises, music. ~calisthenics, ect. More
important than the first, but still not alb.
solutly necessary.
3. By the power Of intellectual leader
ship and performance in awakening
ambition and stimulating the mind. A
necessary and powerful means of accom-
plishlng the end aimed at. ..
4. BY the power. of personal
friendship. Love of the teacher
will awaken love for the work of the
school room. Hate and fear are fatal
foes to interest IN study. This is a
mightlcr agent in awakening love OF
study than any yet named.
5. By the contagious power of enthu
siasm and interest. All affections of the
mind are violently contagious. A cold,
uninterested, inert mind will never
awaken others to intellectual activity. A
soul that is energetic, glowing, red-hot
will impart It's life and heat to all who are
brought within its influence. It'll is by fal
the most powerful and indispensable
agent in arousing the latent energies of
pupils mind. A teacher who is devoie
of it should relinquish his vocation anG
seek some field of employment where hi
can do less harm.